Cody Caves Provincial Park

White-Nose Syndrome
White-nose Syndrome is a fungal disease that has been linked to the mass die-off of hibernating bats in Eastern North America - it poses a significant threat to bats of the west and British Columbia. There is evidence that humans have accelerated the spread through entering caves with contaminated clothing, gear or equipment. Therefore, prevention strategies are focussed on public education/awareness to prevent the introduction of the fungus through human activities. There are currently (JUNE 2011) no reported cases of WNS west of the Rockies. To ensure the protection of bats and their habitat in this park, B.C. Parks strongly advises that personal caving gear that has been used anywhere east of the Rockies not be used in BC and that cavers and visitors read the following fact sheet on decontamination before entering caves in BC.

About This Park

Cody Caves is a unique provincial park located in the Selkirk Mountains above Ainsworth Hot Springs. In the Cody Caves System, an underground stream flows for over a kilometre through ancient limestone.

Park Size: 63 hectares

Special Notes:

Care must be taken while driving on the narrow access road. Please
read information signs at the highway turnoff before driving the access
road.

Bring your own water, as potable water is not available in the park.

Location and Maps

Please note: Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

Cody Caves Provincial Park can be reached by following a narrow forest road that leaves the left side of Highway 31 at a small gravel pit 3 km. north of Ainsworth. The road is approximately 10 km long and is passable during July and August for two wheel drive vehicles with moderate to high clearance. At other times of year, there may be industrial traffic. Please contact the Park Facility Tour Operator for details. Proceed past the houses and follow the main road marked with directional arrows until the parking area and Cody Caves trail sign. The caves are 0.8 km. (about 20 minutes) up the trail. The access road is unsuitable for large motorhomes, vehicles pulling trailers or vehicles with low ground clearance.

Nature and Culture

History - In the early 1890s slopes above Ainsworth were frequented by hopeful prospectors looking for silver. One of these men, Henry Cody, discovered the Cody Caves. Later, in 1899, the caves were the subject of a short story written by Roger Pocock for “Argosy” magazine entitled “The Noble Five”. This story described a cave whose inner chambers were walled with gold ore. The caves then grew in popularity and were visited by many locals and curious individuals including, in 1908, the governor General of Canada, Earl Grey. Though they are not walled with gold, the caves do contain an impressive display of calcite formations that can be seen in many areas of the approximately 800 metres of explorable passage. These formations are extremely old and have been growing at an average rate of about one cubic centimetre a century. The cave itself began formation when limestone beds laid down almost 600 million years ago were thrust upward by mountain building forces that occurred around 170 million years ago. Although the Cody Caves are almost unimaginably old and carved from solid rock, they are exceptionally fragile and can be irreparably damaged in seconds. In fact the caves have probably experienced more change in the 90 years since their discovery than in the previous 9,000.

Conservation - Only guided cave tours for visitors’ safety and for protection of the cave’s features.

Management Planning

Activities Available at this Park

Caving

For public safety and cave protection Cody caves are gated and locked. For information on guided tours of the cave please go to the following website http://www.codycavetours.com/

Cycling

Bicycles must keep to roadways and cycling is available on existing forest access roads. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

Hiking

For your own safety and preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.

Pets on Leash

Pets/Domestic animals are NOT ALLOWED in the caves.

Pets are allowed in the park, but must be on a leash at all times. You are responsible
for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry
areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife and the
potential for problems with bears.

Facilities Available at this Park

Picnic Areas

No established day-use or picnic facilities. This park has a small day-use parking lot able to accommodate up to ten vehicles. A small shelter at the parking lot acts as a shelter to get out of the weather while waiting for party members.

Pit or Flush Toilets

This park only has pit toilets and they are situated adjacent to the parking lot.